The world premiere of ‘Titanic in Photographs’ - showing now in Middleton Hall at thecentre:mk - is a wonderful insight into the tragic ship.
But although the exhibition is built around photographs, there is much more to it than that, writes Sammy Jones.
Organisers John White and David Scott-Beddard have amassed a magnificent amount of artefacts from Titanic and her twin sister ship Olympic, and they are housed in glass cabinets tantalisingly close.
This is a unique opportunity to view a display of items, personal mementos, and those pictures that bring the most famous ship in the world to life once more.
And when you remember that Titanic slipped beneath more than a century ago, that’s quite something.
This show doesn't have items lifted from the seabed – a maritime rule bans recovered items from being sold, but what it does do, with a great uniqueness, is bring a little of the opulence to life.
The magnificence of the ship was lost that fateful day in 1912 when an iceberg tragically sent 1500 to a watery grave, and embedded the Titanic and its story into history.
“It has all the elements of an incredible story; man's misguided belief of conquering nature, the biggest ship in the world, the rich and famous onboard for the maiden voyage, the missed ice warnings. The dozens of fascinating stories of the passengers setting out for a new life, and the unfolding tragedy as the ship slowly sank beneath them, plus so much more,” David says, explaining the elements that continue to capture the world's imagination.
“If someone sat down and wrote this as a fictional novel, it would probably have been deemed just too unbelievable!”
Milton Keynes was chosen simply because the company, White Star Memories, is anchored here, and the so-called pop-up exhibition is well suited to thecentre:mk space.
The feast for the eyes takes you from the ship's inception to its first, and last, journey.
Huge visuals show the boat in all her glory, from the Smoking Room to the Swimming Pool and the Grand Staircase, and those same pictures are paired with items that bring history to life, with evocative and emotive pieces – from furniture and china, to silverware and the same chairs used by passengers!
“The exhibition is based around more than 100 high resolution period images, displayed on giant banners,” says David, “Most are accompanied by original artefacts that you see in the photo, bringing the images to life; almost a 3D experience.”
When Total MK visits for a pre-launch visit, those artefacts are being lovingly unpacked and set out for the thousands who will visit during its two week stay, and we see some of the items associated with one of the most famous historical tragedies.
We are staggered as a magnificent Olympic 1st Class Lounge Cartel Clock is unpacked from its holding box. It doesn't just tell the time, but takes you back in time, along with plaques,and crystalware, and schedules and tickets from the time.
You'll see original Titanic stationary mailed by a passenger to his sweetheart.
The writer enclosed a blank sheet of the letter headed paper as a memento.
That was the last time she ever heard from him. Another passenger lost to the sea on April 15, 1912.
For John and David this is way more than a day job, it's a passion and then some.
And their love-affair with this lost legend took their attentions from a young age – John was given a book aged seven, and hooked, while David was given a model as a child.
Titanic has been with them ever since.
And it's really not hard to understand – Titanic only sailed for four days before the sea claimed her and yet more than a century later her legendary status remains.
Until 2015 her story figured in school curriculums, she has fan clubs the world over and there is an insatiable appetite for anything related to the ship.
Once you've snaked your way through this display and its own remarkable collection of items, the last thing to take your attention is not a photo, nor an object.
The Memorial Wall lists every passenger and crew member aboard that fateful night. There are so many names listed here, that finding empathy is almost obsolete.
Until you remember that behind every one of those names was a person with a story, just like the man who wrote home to his sweetheart, but never returned home...
Titanic in Photographs is based on the book by Daniel Klistorner and Steve Hall, and brought to you by White Star Memories.
The show continues in Milton Keynes until June 11. Admission is free.
